Jersey City residents still have no idea who will be running for most of the City Council seats that will be up next May, but the top two mayoral candidates have been busy announcing various endorsements to their campaigns in recent months.

In an announcement that probably surprised no one, Hudson County Freeholder William O’Dea publicly announced his support for City Councilman and 2013 mayoral contender Steven Fulop.

“Councilman Fulop is the embodiment of a new generation of young, energetic leaders that Jersey City needs to reach our full potential,” O’Dea said last week in a prepared statement. O’Dea represents Jersey City’s West Side and parts of Greenville and Journal Square on the freeholder board.

The announcement came on the heels of another set of endorsements for Fulop from Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, a former executive director of the Black Ministers’ Council of New Jersey, and several other African American clergy.

These endorsements come the same week that Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, Fulop’s challenger next year, lost the backing of New Jersey State Assemblyman Sean Connors (Jersey City – 33rd Dist.).

Citing Healy’s handling of Superstorm Sandy earlier this month, Connors said, “One of the common complaints I heard from residents is that they lacked basic information. There are many ways that the city administration could have communicated with residents about where to get assistance, when power would be restored and whether it was safe to return to their homes.”

Connors had previously endorsed Healy for re-election.

The timing of the Connors’ announcement is critical because it came just days before a planned Healy fundraiser scheduled for Casino in the Park for Thursday, Dec. 6. Any appearance that Healy is losing support among the Democratic Party faithful could hurt his ability to raise money for the upcoming campaign against Fulop.

Special council session planned for Dec. 5

On Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. there will be a special session of the Jersey City Council so the governing body can take another vote on a bond ordinance that failed to get the required number of votes at the council’s last meeting on Nov. 28.

At the special session the council will again consider a $9.5 Million bond ordinance to cover the payment of contractually required severance liabilities owed to retiring city employees.

To pass the ordinance needed at least 6 votes. Last week, however, only five member of the council voted in favor of the measure: Michael Sottolano, William Gaughan, Viola Richardson, and Peter Brennan. Council members David Donnelly, Steven Fulop, and Rolando Lavarro Jr. voted against the measure.

Newly elected City Councilwoman Diane Coleman abstained from voting, noting tat she did not have enough information to maker an informed decision. Coleman was sworn into office just hours prior to the Nov. 28 City Council meeting.

SEOC community meeting with Marcia Lyles

On Monday, Nov. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m., the Jersey City chapter of the Statewide Education Organizing Committee will hold a community meeting with Superintendent of Schools Marcia Lyles at the Mary Bethune Life Center, at 140 Martin Luther King Dr. Student test scores and graduation rates are among the issues that will be addressed.

Landmark Loew’s holiday concert to benefit Jersey City Sandy Recovery

This year, the annual holiday concert sponsored by the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre will benefit Jersey City Sandy Recovery.

The concert, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 8 at 6:30 will include performances by local vocal artists Taresa Blunda and Howard Richman, the choir of St. Dominic’s Academy, an organ performance by Bernie Anderson. Earlier in the day, from noon to 3 p.m., there will be an appearance by Santa. At 7:45 p.m., after the conclusion of the concert, the movie “Elf” will be screened.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children and seniors. Of the adult price, about $3 will be donated to Jersey City Sandy Relief. These ticket prices cover the cost of the holiday concert and the screening of “Elf.” The Lowe’s is offering discounted tickets for guests who only wish to see the holiday show.

The theater is located at 54 Journal Square. For more information, call (201) 798-6055 or e-mail loewsjersey@gmail.com.

Barclays holiday ticket package to benefit the Red Cross

Give the sports fan on your shopping list the gift of The Barclays this holiday season and save – all while assisting your neighbors in need. A special holiday ticket package for The Barclays is now available and includes two good-any-day grounds tickets, plus a commemorative golf accessories bag for only $110. As an added incentive, $25 of the purchase price will be donated to the Northern New Jersey chapter of the American Red Cross.

This special holiday offer, valued at $170, is available through January 1 at TheBarclaysGolf.com.

“This is the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys the very best that the world of golf has to offer, and we’re proud to pledge $25 from every ticket purchased through this offer to benefit disaster relief efforts in the local community,” said The Barclays Executive Director Peter Mele. “We’re pleased to give our fans a great way to take care of some holiday shopping and save on their tournament experience, all while helping our neighbors in need.”

For more information, visit TheBarclaysGolf.com.

Celebrate Winterfest with the Garden School

Garden Preschool Cooperative will host its annual Winterfest celebration on Friday, Dec. 7, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. For the past three years the nonprofit preschool has partnered with various local businesses and community groups to host this free, non-sectarian festival at Grace Church Van Vorst at 39 Erie Street, in downtown Jersey City.

Winterfest is an evening that caters to the young children and families of the community with events and entertainment tailored for the young and young at heart. Face-painting and special performances are scheduled by Nimbus Dance Works, Next Step Broadway, and the Jersey City Children’s Theater. The event will offer a low-cost dinner option with pizza and macaroni and cheese, as well as a traditional bake sale table with holiday treats.

The festival is organized and hosted by the parents of the cooperative preschool. This parent-run organization enjoys a long history of strong civic ties and hosting this event is part of an annual volunteering commitment that each family makes at the start of each school year. A special addition to this year’s event will be a table hosted by the Friends of Liberty State Park. Liberty State Park is an integral part of our Jersey City community and the repair of the park is an initiative that Garden Preschool is particularly proud to support. Attendees will be able to see photographs of the current state of the park, as well as find out ways to become involved in the Sandy recovery effort.

For more information please call Lauren Barbagallo at (646) 220-5856.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School debuts annual giving campaign

St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School, Jersey City’s oldest Catholic elementary School, is launching its first annual fund campaign. Proceeds from the annual fund will help with tuition assistance, technology upgrades, academic resources, and the establishment of an endowment fund, which will help keep tuition affordable to families in the years to come.

St. Joseph’s Elementary School first opened in 1857 on the second floor of the original church, which at the time was located on Hopkins Avenue. Today, the school – which offers full-day pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and elementary education – is located on Pavonia Avenue and has an increasing enrollment.

Anyone who wants to contribute to the annual fund can make checks payable to the St. Joseph School Annual Fund and mail to 509 Pavonia Ave., Jersey City, NJ 03206. For more information, call (201) 653-0392.

Two-hour free parking in municipal lots for holiday shopping

Jersey City last week announced that there will be free parking for two hours in the municipal lots within the city’s five Special Improvement Districts through Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013 to encourage local shopping during the holiday season.

The city’s five Special Improvement Districts include: the Historic Downtown SID, the Central Avenue SID, the McGinley Square SID, the Journal Square SID, and the Jackson Hill Main Street SID.

So Fulop bends a knee to double dipper Bill O'Dea to get help, Billy boy works for Elizabeth EDC and is a freeholder. I thought Fulop was against double dippers? I guess they are OK if they will endorse Stevie. Billy Boy's right hand man and crony Phil Kenny went to prison for corruption and wasn't Billy thick as friends with Jack Shaw right up to the end ( http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/nyregion/31shaw.html?_r=0 )?. I thought Fulop was against cronyism and corruption? I guess it is ok if they will endorse Stevie. But then Stevie has been trying to keep Billy happy for last couple of years, somehow little Stevies cronies from Fairview gave money to 'Do Nothing' Donnelly who O'Dea wanted in as his puppet when Phil went to the slammer. Biily Boy sent $2000 from his O'Dea fund to Elizabeth's Mayor Bollwage campaign. Is that wheeling? Maybe Stevie is OK with that if you endorse him. Billy boy fought against the JCIA -DPW merger loudly, told Stevie how to make it go away, and Stevie let it go. But Billy was quiet when Dabney got his big contract. Billy must have wanted that. But you want me to believe Stevie Boy is a reformer? Looks like same swamp different head on the monster. Will Chico be on Little Stevie's ticket? If Billy boy wants him to be. Then it is Stevie helping Billy Boy to county executive. At least then Billy might only be single dipper. All the Fulop people talk about the truth, well "a few good men" know "You can't Handle the TRUTH."